Insulating splice cover



NOV. 16, 1954 WERKHAVEN' 2,694,747

INSULATING SPLICE COVER Filed NOV. 5. 1951 Nelson Werk/mven I N V EN TOR.

BY n

United States Patent INSULATING SPLICE COVER Nelson Werkhaven, Columbus, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Irene B. Werkhaven, Columbus, Ohio Application November 5, 1951, Serial No. 254,821

1 Claim. (Cl. 174-87) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in insulators for use particularly in junction boxes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for effectively covering and insulating the exposed spliced end portions of conductor wires.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an insulator of the aforementioned character which embodies unique means for securing the device in position on the connected wires.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide an insulator of the character described which may be readily removed and replaced when desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an insulator of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing an insulator constructed in accordance with the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the insulator with the closure flap or tongue open;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, showing the insulator applied but with the flap open;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the device;

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially oval cap or socket 10 of flexible rubber or other suitable insulating material. Formed integrally with the closed end 11 of the cap 10 is a longitudinally projecting socket 12 which is circular in transverse section.

Formed integrally with one of the side walls 13 of the cap 10 at the open end of said cap and extending longitudinally from said side wall 13 is a flexible tongue or flap 14. Adjacent the cap 10, the flap 14 has formed in its longitudinal edges transversely extending slots or notches 15 which accommodate the insulated conductor wires 16.

It is thought that the manner in which the insulator is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the connected insulated conductor wires 16 are inserted in the cap 10, the spliced, bare or stripped end portions 17 of said conductor wires projecting into the socket 12. This is shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings. The flap 14 is then brought between the conductor wires 16 and folded over the other side wall 18 of the cap 10 where it may be secured through the medium of a length of adhesive tape 19, the notches 15 receiving said conductor wires. This is best seen in Figure 1 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that the connected end portions of the conductor wires 16 are completely enclosed and insulated. Also, the construction and arrangement is such that the insulator may be readily removed when desired by simply opening the flap 14. The securing tape 19 is wrapped circumferentially around the cap 10.

It is believed that the many advantages of an insulator constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

An insulator for insulated conductor wires including stripped, spliced end portions, said insulator comprising a flexible rubber cap of a substantial length and substantially oval in cross-section, said cap being of uniform diameter throughout and including substantially flat, opposed side walls and an integral end wall, said cap further being open at its other end for receiving and conformably enclosing the adjacent insulated end portions of the conductors, a reduced socket of circular cross-section integral with the end wall and communicating with the cap for receiving therefrom and enclosing the stripped, spliced end portions of the wires, a longitudinal flap integral with one of the side walls and extending in the plane thereof from the open end of the cap, said flap being foldable between the conductor wires with its free end portion overlying the other side wall of the cap in face abutting engagement therewith, said flap having transversely elongated notches at an intermediate point in its longitudinal edges for the reception of the conductor wires, and an adhesive tape mounted transversely on the flap and adapted to be wrapped circumferentially around the cap and said flap for adhesively securing said free end portion of said flap to said cap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 914,042 Harrison et al. Mar. 2, 1909 1,354,905 Hamilton Oct. 5, 1920 2,571,771 Sigman Oct. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 201,703 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1923 

